Brunch is a favourite past time shared by many and should be an extraordinary experience, one that you will cherish. Vancouver has some wonderful places for brunch. Each of the places I visit is unique for what is offered along with the type of service and selection of dishes. I am on a journey around the city to find these extraordinary places and, at the same time, I will be joined by a notable personality who may be a Film Producer or Director, Musician, Arts Festival Director, Actor or other well-known individual for Brunch at restaurants in and around Vancouver.
For my Fifty Fourth brunch in this series, I was joined by Gloria Macarenko, Host of CBC News over Brunch at Good Wolfe Restaurant in Yaletown talking about the news, food and more.
Gloria Macarenko co-hosts the award-winning newscast CBC News. She has twice been nominated for the Gemini Awards in the category of “Best News Anchor” in Canada.
Gloria herself is an award-winning journalist and senior leader on the news team. In her more than 25 years with CBC, she has been awarded a Jack Webster Award for “Best News Reporting”, multiple RTNDA Awards and a Leo award for “Best Anchor in a News Program” with former co-host Ian Hanomansing. Gloria has guest hosted on The National and CBC News Now, as well as local radio shows The Early Edition and BC Almanac. She has been the lead in election night coverage for two decades and host for CBC’s student journalism project “News Day in BC”.
You can follow Gloria Macarenko on twitter @CBCGloria
Have you always wanted to be a TV News Host?
When I was in high school I knew I wanted to write. In grade 12 I ended up getting a job at a local radio station in Prince Rupert where I lived. I had great opportunities very young, growing up in a small town had its advantages. I produced a tape on drinking driving counterattack and won a scholarship to BCIT Broadcast Journalism.
What is it about the News that you love?
- Immediacy
- Wide ranging topics
- Great dinner party conversation
- You have to have the desire to be first – guess what
What do you want your viewers to learn from your newscast each day?
I would hope that our news cast would be the full meal. This is what you need to know to, to have all the info you need to engage with others about a topic. CBC has given them the full, balanced story for them to form the bigger picture.
Tell me what some of the notable news stories you have reported on your news show over the years?
1) Filling in for Peter Mansbridge on The National – the crash of Swiss Air in 1998, I broadcast for 5.5 hours straight while the story unfolded. CNN took me live for a couple of hours (scope, scale and career moment).
2) BC election night –the drama of the results. Perfect drama played out.
If you could guess how many news shows you have done over the years, how many would that be?
Thousands, I’ve been at CBC TV for 25 years, and another 5 years on radio, so that is 30 years of broadcasting which is a lot of shows.
What are some of your most special moments on air?
- watching ordinary people react to extraordinary circumstances, and they become newsmakers themselves.
- Surrey six murders
- Human stories more affecting than politicians etc
When did you develop your passion or interest in food?
Growing up in Prince Rupert, having access for the bounty of the sea, there was an abundance of fresh fish, my father who was a hunter (moose, venison, ducks, geese) my palate was already very broad. Then travel, went hitchhiking and backpacking to Europe for 6 months and ended up staying 4 years. Lived in Spain for 2 years, traveled and ate regional food. I visit there every summer and I love the simple flavours.
What is your favourite food?
Spanish (in all its varieties)
What are your favourite restaurants in Vancouver?
- The Sardine Can
- Nicli Pizzeria
- Chambar
- Baru
- Trafalgars for brunch
- Blue Water Café
- Vijs Restaurant
What is the best food you have eaten recently?
Steelhead Schwarma at Good Wolfe
What are your two favourite dishes around the city and where?
1) Lamb popsicles at Vijs
2) Sardines on toast at The Sardine Can
Gloria and Richard had some of the freshly baked Croissants to start. Gloria then had the Steelhead Schwarma and Richard had the Hash of the day with shortrib, pork belly, potatoes and barbq sauce.
What do you do in your off time?
- Read (fiction and biographies)
- Yoga
- Time with friends over a good meal
Who were your mentors?
- Erwin Swangard (former editor of the Vancouver Sun) years ago.
- Christine Peugeot (my mentor of all things French including cooking and the language)
What has inspired you recently?
- Ali Brennan inspires me –suffered since infancy with Cystic Fibrosis (I met her 10 years ago). At recent CF Gala, it was a moment of inspiration to dance with Ali who had a lung transplant last year.
- Gordon Smith (artist) at 94 years old, he paints everyday, his work ethic, energy, warmth, prolific
What’s next for you or what’s on the horizon?
- Olympics 2014 coming up in February on CBC (CBC has the rights)
- Spreading out into the digital media in some form.
Style: A La Carte
Attire: Casual
Time: Saturday & Sunday 11am – 3pm
Good Wolfe
1043 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-428-1043
Web: http://goodwolfe.ca/
Twitter: @GoodWolfeVan
Stay tuned to my next guest Interview along with the next Brunch in and around Vancouver.
By: Richard Wolak